It's been three years since I realized that I was an atheist. The years leading up to it were brutal, but the acceptance came and the peace with it came just early last year (March 2005). The "outing" of my atheism has been slow in most social circles, but once it's out there, I am very blatant with it. I am, what you might call, a "devout" atheist. I am not dogmatic, but it would take a HELL of a lot to convince me (no pun intended). But, this year has been really bad for me financially and I am about up to my eyeballs with my Minister father telling me to "just pray about it" and "give it to the Lord". So, I have conceived of way to break my atheism to him and my mother (Gawd bless her "soul"). I am going to start a dialogue with him through email -- subtly. This should help both parties. I can ease into it and then maybe he would understand more than just sitting him down and saying, "You know, Dad. I think all this god stuff is fear-based horseshit." I'll keep you all updated. I KNOW you'll just be hanging on the edge of your seat to know.
Good luck man. I know even for me, telling my believing mom and dad that I was "embracing Christinity" as she put it was hard...for some weird reason But yeah, good luck
Dude, tell your dad you've become a Satan worshiper and play that angle for like 6 months (show up to family gatherrings in a black robe with a pentagram tatooed on your forehead, start gagging and making animal noises during grace, etc.) At the end of that he'll be overjoyed to find out you're really just an atheist. Or just tell him the truth. Good luck either way.
Please do keep us updated. My father is still somewhat religiously conservative (not as bad as he used to be, and he isnt a minister, but still believes creationism and YEC and all the crap) and although he knows I object strongly to organized religion he does not know I am atheist. I just don't want him dwelling on his child that might be going to hell. He has enough stresses in his life (recently laid off) without religious dogma adding to it. I'm interested to see how things go, as I have never been aquainted with another atheist in this position.
Just a little aside; "Atheist vs Minister" would make a killer computer game. And maybe a movie based on the game.
when I told my mom I was athiest she denied it and said I was going throguh a phase don't expect them not to feel bad, but they will get over it
hey Lib, did you become an an atheist before or after you left your parents house? If before, then how did you keep it a secret from them for so long?
Good luck. I don't forsee it being easy, with a minister for a father. My dad's gotten very religious in the last few years, and he often makes spiteful comments about atheists, and muslims especially. He doesn't seem to mind that I'm not Catholic anymore, though told me last night I need to somehow find the True Religion. He didn't define what that was and I didn't ask, it was a sort of family party and I wanted to let that slide without an argument. So I know he believes two things: one, that I'm wrong, following false spiritual teachings (and probably thinks I'll end up in hell if I don't convert back), and two, that someday I will convert back, that this is either some sort of stage, or simply that no one who was raised in the True Religion can ever truly forsake it...they're bound to come back to "what they know is true at heart" someday. So, I'd say you can expect either an angry screamfest, or something along the lines of the two things I just described. However, I hope for your sake you get the third option of understanding and acceptance.
I do believe we have a new blockbuster arriving in theatres shortly!! "The Libertine Crisis" Starring Garrett Theoret as Libertine, and Jesus Christ as the son of God!
He's gonna smack your sorry atheist sack of disbelief straight into redemption sinboy! Seriously though. He'll probably just talk to you about it and pray for you. Is your dad a staunch conservative minister? If so I understand your atheism now.
Libertine, I'm sorry to see that religion is probably going to divide you rather than bring you two together. I hope that everything works out. Have you baptized your kids, etc? Because I would think that your Dad probably noticed a change anyway in your faith (or no-faith,) if they were never invited to the baby's baptism.
My kids are not baptized. Nor "saved" or any of that. I try to keep them open-minded, yet not gullible.
Oh sorry never mind then, you see I'm trying to figure out how I will keep my Buddhism from my parents forever
Keep us up to date. I'm curious at to what happens myself. I've always liked reading your posts. Good luck.
